Marshfield coalition works on appeal of flood zone maps

The chairman of the Marshfield Citizens Coastal Coalition said property site plans may be homeowners’ best tool if they plan to appeal new flood zone maps released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

By Jessica Trufant

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Jessica Trufant

Posted Sep. 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 7, 2013 at 7:09 AM

By Jessica Trufant

Posted Sep. 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 7, 2013 at 7:09 AM

MARSHFIELD

» Social News

The chairman of the Marshfield Citizens Coastal Coalition said property site plans may be homeowners’ best tool if they plan to appeal new flood zone maps released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“The easiest way to appeal the maps is to look for topographic errors that show the area was not read correctly,” Joe Rossi said.

A couple of hundred homeowners showed up at the meeting, many expressing frustration when an engineer said the only way to appeal FEMA’s flood maps is with technical or scientific evidence to disprove that of the government.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently released new flood zone maps that place an additional 2,000 Marshfield properties in the flood zone. The new maps are tied to the Biggert Waters Act, which is due to take effect, and will also eliminate insurance grandfathering for homes built prior to flood maps. Homeowners expect flood insurance premiums to skyrocket.

Engineers who drew the FEMA maps used lidar technology, or lasers that scan the ground from an aircraft. Officials told the coalition that the only thing more precise than lidar is a site plan certified by a land surveyor.

“Nothing is more accurate than feet on the ground, and if we can look at a plan by a land surveyor and show that it doesn’t match the lidar data, then the maps have an error,” Rossi said.

The coalition will hold a workshop at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at St. Ann’s Parish Hall, 591 Ocean St., to help residents appeal the flood maps.

People should bring site plans and elevation certificates with them.

One inaccurate ground reading could affect the entire coast, Rossi said, so it is crucial that towns double-check the work. He said land surveyors have volunteered to be on hand Thursday to help with the maps.

“We feel confident that if we find an error, we will find a way to successfully appeal,” Rossi said. “It is the best attempt we can make.”

Federal officials at last week’s meeting said the maps are not peer reviewed, which Rossi found concerning.

U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-South Boston, said he takes issue with the lack of data-checking done on the maps.

“What would make sense is to have outside groups validate the data, compare it and then decide if it stands or needs to be appealed,” Rossi said, adding that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for permitting, building and certifying coastal structures, yet it is removed from the flood map process.